Anetra

Anetra, whose birth name is Isaiah Padua, hails from Las Vegas, Nevada. Her diverse background includes Filipino, German, Japanese, and Puerto Rican heritage. Early in her life, Anetra trained in Taekwondo from the age of seven, an experience she credits with helping her connect with and find strength in her Asian roots. Her journey into drag began to take shape, though it initially led to estrangement from some family members. Her father, however, provided support and understanding, particularly as they bonded over watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race” during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Anetra gained widespread recognition as a contestant on the fifteenth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” During her time on the show, she showcased a distinctive blend of talents, including her viral “Walk That F—ing Duck” performance that incorporated duck-walking and Taekwondo moves, setting a record as the most-viewed cross-platform scene ever published to the show’s social media accounts with over 13.1 million views. This performance became a defining moment of Season 15 and significantly boosted her social media following, gaining over 500,000 Instagram followers during the season’s airing. Anetra secured three challenge wins, demonstrating her versatility in various competitive formats such as the talent show, the Rusical challenge where she portrayed Mama Bacon in “Wigloose: The Rusical!,” and a makeover challenge.

Her career progression on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” saw her advance through numerous challenges, including several lip-sync battles. Notable performances include her lip-sync against Marcia Marcia Marcia to Doja Cat’s “Boss Bitch,” which became the season’s first lip-sync to reach one million YouTube views and was highly praised by Michelle Visage. Anetra ultimately finished as the runner-up of her season, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in drag. Beyond the competition, Anetra continues to distinguish herself; in June 2023, she was honored with the key to the city of Las Vegas, with June 22nd officially declared “Anetra Day” in recognition of her contributions and achievements.